Launched in the 1980s by Grand Canyon river guide Mark Thatcher, the sandal was initially designed to stay on feet during water sports. But in recent years, a rising trend of nomcore and “ugly-chic” footwear, a category in which Birkenstocks also fall into, has taken the sandals from what was arguably thought of as a fashion faux pas to being included in high end fashion shows. And that’s when Teva, in particular, began capitalizing on its new-found trendy status.